1615, from M.L. ailimentarius "pertaining to food," from alimentum "nourishment," from alere "to nourish, rear, support, maintain," from PIE base *al- "to grow, nourish" (see old). Aliment "nourishment" was in Eng. from 1477.
Main Entry: al·i·men·ta·ry Pronunciation: "al-&-'ment-&-rE, 'men-trE Function: adjective : of, concerned with, orrelating to nourishment or to the function of nutrition :NUTRITIVE <alimentary processes of the body>